China drives Japanese ships from territorial waters of Diaoyu Islands

The China Coast Guard (CCG) warned and then drove away several Japanese vessels that illegally entered the territorial waters of China's Diaoyu Islands between July 2 and 4, Liu Dejun, a spokesperson for the CCG, said in a statement on Thursday.

"We urge the Japanese side to immediately stop all illegal activities in these waters," said the statement, adding that CCG vessels will continue to carry out maritime rights protection and law enforcement activities in waters under their jurisdiction in accordance with the law.